Verbena plant named &#39;KLEVP16485&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  verbena  plant particularly distinguished by dark violet flowers with white eyes, a semi-upright growth habit, and good tolerance to powdery mildew, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP16485’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of verbena,botanically known as Verbena x hybrida, and hereinafter referred to bythe variety name ‘KLEVP16485’. ‘KLEVP16485’ originated from across-pollination conducted in September 2010 in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia between the proprietary female verbena variety ‘VC10RB’(unpatented), and the proprietary male verbena variety ‘VC11ABV’(unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation,where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP16485’ was selected from thegroup of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2011.

In November 2011, ‘KLEVP16485’ was first vegetatively propagated by stemcuttings in Cobbitty, NSW, Australia. ‘KLEVP16485’ was found toreproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagationvia vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Dark violet flowers with white eyes;    -   2. A semi-upright growth habit; and    -   3. Good tolerance to powdery mildew.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's foliage and flowers.

The photograph is of a 15-week-old plant grown in a greenhouse inStuttgart, Germany in April 2014. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP16485’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected onthree-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia in June 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena x hybrida.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP16485’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female verbena variety            ‘VC10RB’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety ‘VC11ABV’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—32.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—41.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous roots, colored white, RHS            155B.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 16.        -   Length.—20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.2 cm.        -   Internode length.—2.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 130D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A.            Lower surface: RHS 141C.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D.            Texture: Leathery.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.        -   Length.—0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 93B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—2 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—5.0 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 15.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Glossy.        -   Form.—Single.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.8 cm.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS N88A with white eyes RHS            N999D. Lower surface: RHS 90B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS            93B with white eyes RHS N999D. Lower surface: RHS N88C.        -   Corolla tube length.—1.1 cm.        -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 56C.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.9 cm. Diameter of lobe: 2.0 cm.            Lobe shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,            satiny.        -   Pedicels.—Not visible.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141C.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Shiny. Color: RHS 139D.            Filament length: 0.9 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther:            Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter:            0.2 cm. Pollen amount: Sparse.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.            Stigma: Color: RHS 141D. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm.            Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.9 cm.            Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery    mildew.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP16485’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Characteristic ‘KLEVP16485’Female parent Male parent ‘VC10RB’ ‘VC11ABV’ Flower color Dark violetwith Solid purple Purple with eyes white eyes Earliness Early MediumEarly

When ‘KLEVP16485’ is compared to the commercial verbena ‘Empress FlairViolet Blue’ (patent status unknown), differences between the varietiesare described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Commercial Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP16485’‘Empress Flair Violet Blue’ Flower color Dark violet with Solid purplewith dark white eyes purple eyes Tolerance to Good tolerance Lesstolerance than powdery mildew ‘KLEVP16485’

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of verbena plant designated‘KLEVP16485’ as illustrated and described herein.